Hi All, got a question for you. "Emdee" our girl MD Python hasn't had a shed since late November last year. 2 weeks ago her eyes went all cloudy for about 4 days or so. They've been clear again for 5 days now, but no shed yet. What is going on here? She also hasn't eaten since end of March, even tho she and "Boof"(he's a guts, just keeps eating) haven't been cooled this year(they are both only 18mths old now). So is there anything we need to do please? Could we be doing something wrong? Or has "Emdee" just decided it was bloody Winter and that was that? Cheers Cheryl

Hi Chezza, Shedding normally happens about 4-5 days after the eyes clear mate, so your MD is due, perhaps just a bit late. You could assist by doing a few things, from memory its pretty dry where you are,
try giving it a nice jacuzzi in a tub of tepid water for an hour or so, not too deep, or you could line the tub with wet spaghum moss or a wet towel, for a few hours to create high local humidity. It may just be a bit dry.
Never put a put a python in a wet bag though, it restricts air flow. see how it goes.
occasionally they can fail to slough, this can be for a number of reasons, mainly lack of humidity, or a slight tear in the old skin can cause the fluids beneath to dry up., Id try the soaking, or wet towel for a few hours, make sure something rough is provided in the enclosure and maybe upgrade to a bigger water bowl or place the bowl closer the heatr to create more humidity.
some like to mist daily when cloudy eyes appear.
If you havent missed more than one slough, dont panic, it will come off with the next slough.
They can go long times between sloughs it really depends on growth. Our darwin is few and far between too. no great cause for concern.

P.s, nice to see you back here, say hi to Dave for me eh. Still waitin on some pics sweetheart!

Hi Inny, hows it going mate? Thanks for the info. Might give the warm bath a go 2morrow arvo. Dave is fine, gone fishing overnight with a mate. Swagging it. Nice and peaceful here tonight Hope you and yours are all fit and well. Yeah I know, I must get my Sh*te together and take some pics to put up on the site. Just slack I guess. We have a nice little Brown Tree Frog, which sits on the kitchen window at night catching all the moths and other insects that are attracted by the light. Cute little fella! I'll see if I can get a pic of him as well.

HI chezza, good wishes for the Md. Looking forward to pics too!
Love to see that cheeky frog!

Found a shed this morning, so hopefully Emdee will start eating again now. She looks really dark compared to Boof. His markings are a lot brighter than hers. Can anybody please tell me what % the humidity should be in the enclosure? Cheers Cheryl

Somewhere between 40-50% is fine for carpet, humidity can vary alot depending on the enclosure. How big it is, how much ventilation etc.
provided you have a waterbowl the snake can soak in itself in, its not a great big issue. A very good freind of mine told me that 40 odd years ago, he would put a square of newsprint hung up inside the enclosure.
if the paper stayed crisp after 24 hrs, it was too dry, if it was soggy after 24 hrs it was too wet! not to tecknological back then yet the snakes did well.
if your really concerned you can get a little strick on humidity guage for a few bucks, but really not ness. just slide the bowl closer the heat, itll be fine.
Snakes are suposed to shed about a week after the eyes clear, but maybe not all snakes know that.
Dont worry too much Chezza, sounds like your doing fine to me!

Great to hear MD has finally shed for you Chezza. I bet thats a relief for you. Yes please post a pic of the frog I loved to see it.

Ok, so found shed skin yesterday morning. Could be a prob here as Emdee not eating? She hasn't eaten since we put her and Boof together in the same enclosure, about half way through March I think it was? I've been taking one of them out while feeding the other and vice versa. In a click clack tub for a while. Boof the guts still eating all winter, but not Emdee? Last night tried to tempt Emdee with a fuzzy rat, all she wanted to do was get out of enclosure with us. Gave Boof a velvet rat, no probs, latched on and scoffed it. Left fuzzy rat on newspaper(one Emdee rejected again, Grrrr!!), then Boof comes out and scoffs that as well, little guts. Bottom half of enclosure needs a new sliding door, might have to invest in new pane of glass hey?, and just see what happens when they are in separate enclosures? What do you think Inny? Do you think Emdee might be too stressed out due to there being another snake in her enclosure? Is that why she isn't eating??? Please help!!!! PS. They are both too small to breed.Both the same age. Boof is only half the size of Emdee, due to his lack of eating for about 3 mths after we got him. We haven't got em together for breeding purposes, it was just lack of loot to go and get another sliding door sorted out. Emdee is very healthy looking, hasn't lost weight, cruises round heaps in the night time. Grrrrrrrrr!!! Cheers Cheryl

I wouldnt stress too much about it Chezza,
If the heat is good, she may just be a bit contrary!
You could try separating them, see how she goes.
There are so many variables why a snake may not eat, whats the temp in the enclosure
? It might be nice for boof but not for her? Have they both got access to the basking spot?
She wont lose condition that fast, stubborn lil snakes can go months without tucker.
Id get the new glass and give her a shot on her own, see how ya go with that.
Are you handling her much?, She sounds a bit like our girl childrens, she likes to escape and only eats when it pleases her.

Hi Dan, yes we handle her a couple of times per week, no probs. She and Boof are the most beautiful placid snakes. No probs with either of them at all! Maybe I'm just freaking out cos she hasn't eaten in so long eh? I think MD's are the best beginner snakes of all! Had both of them since hatchies as you know. I'm afraid I was a tad scared of snakes till we got Emdee and Boof. But have grown to luv em both. Boof has completely different colouring to Emdee. She came from Carly on the Aussie Pythons website.(Mildura), and Boof came from URS. Maybe he's from a diff area? I'm still scared of the Brownies we have cruising around our sheds out here in the sticks. Might not get so many now, as we've baited all the leftover ratties(or escapees from the Rodentranch), LOL! Humidity in enclosure is up to approx 40%, just added another water bowl. No condensation. Keeping water down red lamp end. I do have one of those stick on thingos with temp and humidity(swapped for live pet ratties, yeehaa!), but it was only running on about 25% till I added more water.

Comments: Ah, there ya go Chezza, looks like it was a tad dry-ish, that should fix that problem.
Maybe try not handling MD for a week or two, then offer food again. Every python is different, has its own character, could be she's still a bit iffy bout handling.
cant hurt to try that, see how she goes. :)

[B]Yeehaa!!! Emdee just ate 2 velvet rats. Actually, prior to Winter she could scoff a 100grammer no probs, but 2 night just thought I would try her with a velvet, scoffed that no probs, so gave her another, scoffed that as well. I'll let those 2 go thru her first I reckon. Once the poo biz happens, then I'll let her have a go at a Fuzzy rat. I was getting really worried as its been 5mths since she's eaten anything. Whereas "Boof" the guts has eaten all Winter! Yeeehaaaa!!! I guess I'm just a "worrywart". Cheers Cheryl

Yeehaa!!! I'm just so happy "Emdee" has eaten after 5mths of "nada". Yeehaa!

Good Stuff Chezza! Always a big releif!

Hi Inny, yes that's a relief that she has shed and has now had a feed. She's been looking for more to eat, but no poo yet. Must have a good look around in enclosure and see if she's hidden a poo behind a hide in the cool end. She's definately hungry after 5mths of no eating. Cheers Cheryl